Syrian Businessman on sex-related charge

A prominent foreign businessman in St. Andrew appeared at the Grenville Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday to answer the charge of Indecent Assault on one of his female employees.

The Community Relations Department (CRD) of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) identified the suspect as 56-year old, Vinod Butani, who is a Syrian national operating two stores in the town of Grenville known as Shalimar Enterprises.

Butani appeared before Magistrate Nevlyn John on a Bench Warrant after refusing to attend court on the day before (Monday, July 16).

He is accused of assaulting his 19 -year old female employee by touching her breast and her bottom while at the same time making sexual demands of her.

The incident allegedly occurred mid-morning on July 13 while the female employee was at the store carrying out her daily duties.

The woman reported the matter to the Grenville Police Station and as a result Butani was arrested and charged.

The Syrian businessman was placed on $7000 bail with one surety and is due to return to court on October 30.

Butani has been described as one who is “closely aligned to the state” and suspected of providing “funding” for the ruling New National Party (NNP) of Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell.

This is the not the first time that the businessman has ran into trouble with the law, as he was taken into custody for abusing one of his workers, a fellow Syrian, but was never charged for the incident.